The drums are a bit loud, but they do get better as the show progresses. The reviewers that say it's unlistenable don't know what they're talking about. The quality is better than many an audience cassette that I loved back in the day. At the very least, start listening and judge for yourself. If you find it tolerable, as I do, it's certainly worth the time. Having said that, I'd call it average late '72... meaning KICK-ARSE! To me, the Europe '72 tour was the apex of GD excellence, so this ain't that, but I'd rather listen to this show than anything post '75. It's just better. your mileage may vary, of course.

Whomever is complaining about sound quality has not listened to all the previous copies of this show. thank you Jay Ashley for your superb work on your Berthas.

great if you want to study bills drumming technique. I'm a drummer, i love drums, but this one is headache inducing after awhile. i think playing is really hot but have a hard time listening to it. there are many other soundboards of this era to check out. im not a dead show basher by any means just giving a fair judgement to this particular show.

With No Offense To The Garden State Or Any Of The Inhabitants Thereof. I Take It That The Initial Letters In Our Friends Call Sign Designate His Home State. If You Feel You Have To Put That In Your I.D. That Tells You A Lot About The Person's State Of Being. Therefore We Must Consider The Source When Reading njpg's Posts. That Being Said, Billy's Bass Drum Sounds Like A Tooth Ache I Once Had. This Must Be The Proverbial Shoes In The Dryer Effect We've Heard Tell About. This Seems To Be Remedied Somewhat (And I Mean Somewhat) A Few Songs Into Set 2. Grate Show Though And A Good Recording Despite Some Mix Issues. Sorry This One Came Out So Negative. Droning On About Incessant Irritating Noises. And I Don't Have Jersey As An Excuse.

I have listened to a lot of Grateful Dead since being round these parts and I am telling you without hesitation this is a solid show and mint recording (with the Bertha remaster)
Yes it is heavily in Billy's kitchen on the perspective side
and there are like 4 or 5 flips/warps,
but if anything is deserving of five stars--THIS IS IT.
The band in its prime and on top of the world.
Promised, FRIEND, Jack Straw
China>Rider- 4th song in-makes me think they are here to play.
Have you ever been up on stage close to a drum kit and just let it tear into you?
today everybody raps their drummer in plexiglass
I want to feel the drummer,
drummers are intensity, the HEARTBEAT of a band.
I have commented before
let every recording bring me a different perspective
on the Dead's sound.
I have been leaning back into 73 lately.
I like the freight train jams going from one song into the next
but their is also a certain clarity about 72.
It starts in Europe and just picks up steam.
Not sure what makes some recordings resonate with me
but this has that extra special mojo.
Polka-MEXICALI-
Solid percussion here for the BOX of Rain.
I noticed this version seems to move along at a pretty good clip.
I believe this is Donna's first song of the night.
The interplay between Phil and Donna is BEAUTIFUL.
Has to be one of the better versions of BOX *****
Phil just lands the vocal ending.
Me & Bobby-Bob is not on mic to start,
Wow, Garcia comes in on those backing vocals.
Did Garcia ever play this with Garcia Band?
I believe he did.
I never even noticed what Billy was doing
during this tune before.
Weir's vocals low,
But again, listen how into it >>>Garcia is with his backing vocals.
Ton of banter, m-a-r-s-h-m-el-low
CANDYMAN-Jerry's vocals are hitting my brain stem
Not sure who is singing behind Garcia probably Weir and Lesh
not hearing DJG on this.
Sounds like some slide.
If Bill gets any kind of uptempo tunes moving forward.
We better have a defibrillator handy.
MAMU-"A touching ballad of unrequenting greed."
Good Weir's vocals are better YES
O.K. sound is stabilized
Sugaree-This is just the right mix on Jerry's vocals.
PLAYING-22 minutes worth.
You get a full measure of DJG and Weir.
It will be interesting to see how the PITB jam sounds?
I know we had been lacking Keith somewhat in the mix?
Jerry solid sound on his riffs
About 8 minute in and the jam is in full swing.
and this is the MOTHER LOAD
Keith working the Piano.
You can hear the guys growl. (Very cool recording)
Jam at 12 minutes is intense FLYIN"
15 minutes High Intensity
at 16 minutes restate the Main Ten
Probably gives Donna Jean the heads up.
flip just before chord progression PITB reprise.
But they are still jamming SPACE, kinda bending and closing in
Sure Donna is swaying at the mic now.
Like water heading over a waterfall comes the REPRISE
Bill is juiced, Both Donna & Bob bringing the lyrics.
Oh, Jerry with that guitar!
an amazing Set One with a fade out on Weir's standard set break announcement.
Set Two-
Yes how about a He's Gone opener!
They pulled this out at RFK late 80's I believe?
and it was such a rarity.
I can always find that show by that 2nd set opener.
Well with me talking about how P.I.T.B evolved.
What about He's Gone?
Those versions during Europe 72 are cool
but this is a stand alone Big Kahuna.
El Paso- oh yes, Amazing where Weir placed these cowboy tunes,
A good tune to follow Billy on.He get super busy, double timing.
Weir's voice is pristine. Keith is right on.
Almost can hear shades of Professor Longhair (Tipitina)
Don't Ease-Wow, interesting placement.
Used to hearing this as a first set closer.
This is good upbeat rocker
and speaking of rockers ===GREATEST !!!
Garcia's guitar on this song during 72 has that psychedelic wha-wha.sound. Donna takes a pass until the water witch spell
que Garcia liftoff. Not easy to keep up with Jerry's guitar but Donna gives it her due, Keith jumps in with some boogie woogie.
Weir comes in for final verse.
Oh my, oh my Mr. Garcia
Brown Eyed-I am kinda emotional right now.
I remember it was like yesterday
but oh so many years ago
"Tumbled down shack in Big Foot County"
IT LOOKS LIKE THE OLD MAN'S GETTING ON..
Note: Bill's drumming to coda
BIODTL-Vocals are real good hear with Phil backin'
Jerry's everywhere ouch/ cut KEITH
Smooth Weir lyrics
Garcia Backing vocals
No Donna on that one.
ATTICS- WHEN I HAD NO WINGS TO FLY..
YOU flew to me.. YOU flew to me...
Weir counts off the Big River
Big River-slam dancin'
with the GD
" Mason Minnesota?"
So it all comes together , got the backbeat
got the heart of gold band
tear the roof off ..
Phil counts off the Dark Star 1-2-4
Am I ready for this? Bring it on
8:25-Very Very NICE
11 + Dark Star crashes
25 minutes in = total complete utter meltdown
um Sugar Magnolia during the SSDD transition
Weir cracks
ANY TIME NOW ,, WE GET PAID BY THE HOUR
Donna gives the good night 🌼
E) Casey Jones-Ripping.
I was not expecting JGB as a second encore.
This show is what it is all about!!!!!
Donna stepping out on this Johnny B
Bobby ad-libbing all over the place.
Weir shredding those vocal chords
Jerry Garcia
Phil Lesh
Bob Weir
Keith & Donna
Billy the Kid
10-27-72

npg is out of his mind, 72 is hands down one of my favorite years both for dark stars and in general. The dark stars from 72-74 reach a depth that is unmatched in any other time period. 72-74 was the golden era, never the same after.

A better recording, but not at all what I'd call a good show. Dark Star is a tune that really needs more depth of texture. Most '72 Dark Stars sound bleak, empty & boring to my ears.

October was birthday month
for Bobs Weir
a Libra, ...
my Mom would say
I just want to say, thanks,
for playing in the band.
We could not have done it without you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB
Thanks,
from me and all our friends
here and now
Ps. My legs hurt from dancing,
my face hurts from smiling.
Good Old Grateful Dead

`
~^|\_@|@_/|^~
~<->/<->\<->~
Billy's bass drum and snare drum are a little too hot in the mix.
Sounds like yer sittin behind the kick drum...Oops!
4 stars for the mix, recording. 5 Stars for the performance.
I recommend using your EQ during playback of most of the shows on the IA, this one included.
Windows Media Player has a 10 band EQ and SRS WOW effects that enhance the sound.
Here's one way to download this show:
The IA recommends users of Windows XP view this web-page with RealPlayer. RealPlayer is a free media player you can download at www.realplayer.com.
For easy streaming or downloading you should use RealPlayer.
Using RealPlayer to view this webpage, click the VBR M3U link to open the songs in the Playlist. If your Playlist is not open, open it by clicking the Playlist icon at the lower right hand corner of RealPlayer. Once the songs are in the Playlist, double click the song to play it, then click the record button at the lower left hand corner of Realplayer to record it.
When the red line reaches the other end click the stop button to download the song. Your song is in the RealPlayer Downloads folder. Repeat these steps for each song.
Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.
Thanks for the LOVE from 1972.
PS: Get em' while you can, get em' while they're free, get em' now or you'll be sorry...the Man giveth and the Man taketh away...WTTW

i am sorry, kick too loud?
dark star brings it all four square
lunatic, tunalic meltdown
another masterpiece logged into the pantheon
brigade
lo, the pantheon brigade
brought on

Did you listen to the other version? This bertha remaster is amazing with what it did to clear this up

This is not a bad show , my complaints come with the mix. The vocals are bright and in your face , which isin't so bad, but Jerry's guitar is way down and it's hard to hear Phil. A little tough to listen too with so much better material available. I'm getting to the point where I have so much of everything that I'm getting really picky so maybe it's me. It's worth checking out.
I'd have to say 2.5 for sound.

Where did these songs come from? Dead base viii lists only the 4 songs. An excellent show but is it what it says it is!!??

Love the set list but the drums are way too HOT, and there is hardly any of Bobby's guitar, or even Jerry for that matter, in the mix. The vocals are battling the damn bass drum on every song! Ugh!! I hate that a great show would have such a ragged overall blend.

Got to love '72. I'm a fan of '72 over spring & summer '73 and this doesn't let me down. Good sound and the playing is on.
Maybe it's me but it seems a little short by '72 standards. That is made up by the 2 main jamming songs Playin & Dark Star. They get really deep and explore some good themes in each. The rest is actually gravy in my book especially a nice Attics. End of the show is Cleveland style rock n roll complete with leaving the stage after the Caey Jones encore only to come back for a JBG encore. How many times did the Dead do that?

Wow, just recently got this show. It could almost be a top ten, but for a few flaws, and that there are so many other big dogs in the race. But what an unknown gem! 1972 was the year of many of the best versions for certain songs, IMHO,and lots of them are here - Box of Rain, FOTD, Jack Straw and
Candyman. Plus a rare Attics! I'm already a happy guy. The Dark Star spans nearly a half hour and runs the gamut from mellow space to Phil earthquake.Try out this show folks, a very strong contender for fall 1972. Recommended.
Dr. Flashback ;-)